Fort Lytton National Park

Getting there and getting around

From central Brisbane, travel east along Lytton Road. Drive through the Hemmant Industrial area, then swing left to South Street and through the gate to Fort Lytton. From Wynnum, drive west to the end of Tingal Road, left into Pritchard Street and right to South Street.

Note: Fort Lytton is open to the general public on Sundays only, from 10am to 4pm. Entry fees apply, and a guided tour is included in the entry fee.

Wheelchair accessibilityThere are wheelchair-accessible toilets. The grass pathways at Fort Lytton are not easily accessible for strollers or wheelchairs. Contact the park office for further information about accessibility.

Park features

Fort Lytton is one of several coastal fortifications built along Australia's coast in the 19th century to safeguard shipping lanes and ports from possible enemy raids.

From 1881 until the 1930s, Fort Lytton was Brisbane's front line of defence and is regarded as the birthplace of Queensland's military history. Regular training camps in military warfare were a highlight of Queensland's political and social calendar.

This classic example of a coastal fortress was surrounded by a water-filled moat, and its heavy armaments were concealed behind grassy ramparts connected by underground passages. After World War II, the fort had outlived its usefulness and fell into disrepair until petroleum refining company Ampol took over the site in 1963. The fort became a national park in 1988 which today protects this important link with our military past.

Camping and accommodation

Camping

To protect the cultural values of the site, camping is not permitted at Fort Lytton National Park.

Other accommodation

Brisbane offers a wide range of holiday accommodation. For more information see the tourism information links below.

Things to do

Walking

You can walk around Fort Lytton with a guided tour or at your own pace.

Sundays: Bookings are not required for general entrance, except if a specific time-slot for a tour is required. First tour: 10am. Last tour: 2.15pm. Tours last approximately 90 minutes and are conducted by knowledgeable volunteer guides.

Weekdays: Fort Lytton is closed to the general public on weekdays but group tours can be arranged. To make tour bookings, please contact the park office or the Brisbane Visitor Information Centre (see the tourism information links below).

Picnic and day use areas

A picnic area is provided for all visitors, by the banks of the Brisbane River. If you plan to have a barbecue, please bring a portable gas barbecue, as open fires are not permitted in the park.

Other things to do

Visit the museum to discover more of Fort Lytton's stories.

Things to know before you go

Essentials to bring

Wear a hat and sunscreen while walking around the site.

If you plan to have a barbecue, bring a portable gas barbecue, as open fires are not permitted in the park.

Opening hours

Fort Lytton is open 10am to 4pm on Sundays.

Climate and weather

Brisbane enjoys a mild, subtropical climate. The average daily temperature range is 22 to 30 degrees Celsius in summer and 12 to 22 degrees Celsius in winter.